Glossary

Eutrophication

Eutrophication is a natural process that can be accelerated by the discharge of nutrients, such as phosphates, into water bodies.

There are detrimental effects of eutrophication such as making water unsuitable for stock, aquatic life and humans and often leading to seasonal deficiencies in dissolved oxygen.

The excessive growth of algae or other aquatic organisms in a waterway is known as an algal bloom. Algal blooms occur when there are high concentrations of nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates available. Phosphates are naturally only available in low concentrations, so when it becomes readily available plant growth increases rapidly.

Organisms that can produce algal blooms include:

• green algae (green scum, not toxic)
• cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) which is a type of bacteria that can produce toxins which kill livestock and may cause illness in humans.